Notes / Commercial Description:
This imperial recipe begins with a big, rich stout packed with chocolate and coffee malts as well as oatmeal, and ends after a very generous hop addition. A portion of the brew was then aged in Templeton Rye whiskey barrels and the remainder was aged in our cellar. Before sending out the 2010 vintage, the two were blended for the perfect winter warmer.

User Reviews

Reviews by mhaugo:

More User Reviews:

4/5 rDev -1.5%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark brown to black color with a tan head. The aroma is heavy on the oak with some chocolate, maple and lactose notes thrown in. The flavor is more of the same. I get all of the big imperial stout notes that I expect - namely chocolate and roasted malt. The barrel-aged notes are also present and contribute oak, maple and vanilla characteristics. The alcohol is very well hidden, but there are some light bourbon notes in the flavor. Medium to thick mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Smells of lightly roasted malts with large amounts of vanilla and oak. Also present are lighter amounts of dark chocolate and molasses.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though not as complex. Smooth roasted malts up front are joined quickly by boozy sweetness consistent of dark molasses and vanilla. Midway through the flavor profile turns slightly more bitter with the addition of semi-sweet chocolate that carries through to a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is good, with smooth carbonation.

Overall this was a solid beer for the style that wasn’t overdone in any aspect. Well worth a shot.

On tap. 2011 Release. Pours black with a tan, one finger head that dissipates moderately and leaves an inch of lacing down the tulip glass. Aroma of roasted coffee, oak, and sweet milk chocolate. Surprisingly chocolate forward, especially compared to later years of the release. Taste is roasted malts and chocolate with subtle notes of coffee and a sweet finish. Alcohol is in the finish, but not too strongly. Low carbonation and medium body with minimal amounts of lingering alcohol. Body is lighter than expected for a barrel aged imperial stout, but it has retained the expected creaminess.
It was aged in Jack barrels, and turned out differently than the 2012 and 2014 releases. It was lighter and sweeter overall than the later versions. I enjoyed the creamy, more chocolate and coffee forward notes to it and liked it better than the later oakier, boozier versions. 2011 ended up being more unconventional but still very enjoyable.

Based on this years itteration, I will bump up the smell & mouthfeel & appearanxe, plus overall. Much more oak, vanilla & bourbon presence, thicker mmoyth feel & appearance. This in the top 3 of Beers made in state...

Bottle 245/612 pours an effervescent ebony with a 2 fingers of rich brown head. Nice viscious look to this, a bit of lacing & head retention

S: Much dark fruit & vanilla up front. The nose kind of runs out of gas as it warms up

T: Follows the nose, some nice choclate & oaky notes up front. Dryness, slight boozey heat, dark cherry, raisin & vanilla are all working together as this warms, along with a touch of licorice. Finishes with a touch of smokeyness, vanilla, toffee, cherry, a kiss of tobacco

This is a very good IMP stout that fails to hit the correct notes on smell & mouth feel. I will happily buy more if given the chance I am sure this vintage/beer has years of great enjoyment ahead for those lucky enough to stock up. Coop has hit at least a triple with this one!

Here we go: the taste... Dangerously smooth. No intrusive harshness from the barrel or booze. Soft chocolate, tobacco, roasty malt presence, some sweet fruits linger on the tail end.

Perhaps the most drinkable BA imperial stout I've ever had, which is certainly this beers forte... I do sort of wish it could get beefed up a bit in feel and flavor. What's here is damn good though. Thanks again Ken!

A - Really nice looking pour considering this was BA for 3 months. Very deep dark brow almost black in color. Decent 1 finger beige colored cap that transitions into a thin ring around my glass. Surprised to see some lacing as all the BA stouts I have had do not show lacing.

S - Smell is terrific. Nice chocolate, toffee, caramel, vanilla, some coffee. Slight hints of oak and whiskey from the barrel. Even though this is 65 Ibus I do not pick up much hop aroma.

T - A very nice flavor after aging this for a year. I would think fresh there would be more bitterness. I get plenty of dark chocolate, caramel and toffee. Hints of vanilla, coffee, oak, and whiskey. Very little booze on this.

M - A tad thin, but it is so smooth and creamy after a year that I really enjoy it. Minimal bitterness in my mouth.

O - Very well done Oak aged stout that I had the pleasure of trying after it was aged for a year. Fresh I would imagine that it is more bitter. Big thanks to Ken in OK for this one.

Again, my apologies for my lacking of beer reviewing talent... I had this last weekend at the Prohibition Room and was really impressed with it. If it's 10% alcohol you couldn't prove it by me. It hides its alcohol better than any imperial that I've ever had. Watch out!

I didn't really catch the oak barrel aged flavors. I've had beers in the past that were bourbon barrel aged and didn't care for it. So, whatever they did they did it right with this one. Not too overpowering.

Edit to my edit... I was floored to learn that the Prohibition Room was getting $10+ with tax on these pints. Absolutely ridiculous! I have found that other establishments are serving a slightly less expensive serving of it in smaller quantity. Drunken Fry has it for $7 for 14oz. Still a bit too rich for my blood. I'll pass on it.